The Gathering are you ashamed

Hootanany · 20-06-2013 09:48PM #1

I am.

PizzamanIRL · 20-06-2013 09:50PM

Have you tried reporting your story to the Daily Star? They pay very well.

Micky Dolenz · 20-06-2013 09:50PM

I'm not.

Can't bate a good session.

Valetta · 20-06-2013 09:50PM

Hootanany wrote: »

I am.

Why?

I think it's a great idea with only positive things to come out of it.

Brego888 · 20-06-2013 09:52PM

I don't care enough to have an opinion

3rdDegree · 20-06-2013 09:53PM

Was back in my home town of Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny at the weekend and saw this planted at one of the roundabouts on the way in. I'm certainly proud.

First of all, I didn't know they were expecting me; and second, I only came from Dublin!

jimmycrackcorm · 20-06-2013 09:55PM

Hootanany wrote: »

I am.

Is it the smell?

The Backwards Man · 20-06-2013 09:56PM

I think it's great. More tourists around here than there has been in many a year.

keith16 · 20-06-2013 09:57PM

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

I'm not.

Can't bate a good session.

But this one is sponsored by the government and I can't in good conscience be expected to....wait a minute.....did you say session?

seven_eleven · 20-06-2013 09:57PM

Anybody who is "ashamed" should cop on a bit. There's nothing to be ashamed about it, seriously.

there's a lot of good work being put into the gathering, and a lot of other good things coming out of it.

For example a large internation summer camp for physically and intellectually disabled people of all ages is being hosted here in Ireland for a week in August. People will be coming from many different countries.

http://www.internationalcamp2013.ie/

SimonLynch · 20-06-2013 09:58PM

I'm indifferent to the Gathering thing, it's a bit along the lines of what Claire Daly might object to.

I'd like to see more of an Ireland's good value now campaign. I've stayed in hotels in the last year for silly money and had nothing but great service and at worst palatable food.

Highlight was the Inishowen Gateway in Buncrana and finding my favourite pub in Ireland - The Drift Inn next door

Taco Corp · 20-06-2013 09:59PM

If any other country had done something similar you'd be asking how come Ireland didn't think of that.

Micky Dolenz · 20-06-2013 09:59PM

keith16 wrote: »

But this one is sponsored by the government and I can't in good conscience be expected to....wait a minute.....did you say session?

That's the spirit

I've been home a lot this year, not becuase of any government driven agenda. But it is important to remind people how much fun our cities/towns are. We live in a great country, the best country in the world some would say.

the keen edge · 20-06-2013 10:02PM

Hootanany wrote: »

I am.

And so you should be.

Good auld Irish Catholic shame is one of the big selling points of The Gathering.
Tourists will be arriving here expecting a look of humiliation upon the faces of the natives.

Ireland thanks you for doing your bit.

Washington Irving · 20-06-2013 10:02PM

The what?

matTNT · 20-06-2013 10:04PM

No, all for it; Ireland has only two indigenous industries: farming and tourism let's get as much money this underutilized industry and once the tourists come for the gathering I guarantee that many will want to come back.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 20-06-2013 10:04PM

SaulGoode9 wrote: »

The what?

Indeed.

This is apparenly aimed at getting expats to come home for a bit, but as an expat who came home, I had no idea what it was until I was home...

brummytom · 20-06-2013 10:06PM

I think it's genius on the part of the Irish tourist board. The country's desparate for money at the moment, why not take advantage of Americans whose great-great-great grandparents once met an Irishman?

For Forks Sake · 20-06-2013 10:08PM

matTNT wrote: »

No, all for it; Ireland has only two indigenous industries: farming and tourism let's get as much money this underutilized industry and once the tourists come for the gathering I guarantee that many will want to come back.

How dare you show positivity, the torch, pitchfork and misery brigade will be after you..........

TheUsual · 20-06-2013 10:09PM

It's better to burn out than to fade away !!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bOKsOveYD0

Jimoslimos · 20-06-2013 10:13PM

Underwhelmed.

Why is it we can't target a massive untapped tourist market on our doorstep, Europe, instead of a few dozen expats with the means and the time (two very precious commodities in the US anyway) to visit?

A stupid idea trying to disguise the fact we are an unattractive destination for anyone who doesn't have an above basic level of English.

Manc-Red · 20-06-2013 10:16PM

Hootanany wrote: »

I am.

I wouldn't go as far as to say I'm ashamed of it....

it is however a big pile of bo**ox though.

Joe prim · 20-06-2013 10:18PM

Captain_Hindsight wrote: »

If any other country had done something similar you'd be asking how come Ireland didn't think of that.

Actually , we copied it off Scotland who did something similiar a few years ago, so in fact we didn't think of it, so that's how come, right !

EuskalHerria · 20-06-2013 10:20PM

There will always be begrudgers. I think it's a great idea.

When does it start?

For Forks Sake · 20-06-2013 10:20PM

Jimoslimos wrote: »

Underwhelmed.

Why is it we can't target a massive untapped tourist market on our doorstep, Europe, instead of a few dozen expats with the means and the time (two very precious commodities in the US anyway) to visit?

A stupid idea trying to disguise the fact we are an unattractive destination for anyone who doesn't have an above basic level of English.

http://www.failteireland.ie/FailteIreland/media/WebsiteStructure/Documents/3_Research_Insights/3_General_SurveysReports/Overseas_visitors_to_Ireland_January-March_2013.pdf?ext=.pdf

Visitors from mainland Europe up 13% Year on Year for Q1.....any other unsubstantiated statements can be answered by statistics in the link.

kerry4sam · 20-06-2013 10:21PM

Hootanany wrote: »

I am.

NO I am not ashamed of 'The Gathering'. It is what you make it at the end of the day.

I am fortunate in my job I've been witness to numerous 'Gatherings' whereby people have decided that this is 'The Year' to re-unite with family & friends and so many have chosen my place of work for this too

Some moments have been cringe-worthy, but still nice to observe. Some people have ripped the event to the extreme but mostly though 'The Gatherings' I have been witness to have been lovely so I am not ashamed in the slightest with what I have seen thus far this year.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 20-06-2013 10:28PM

EuskalHerria wrote: »

There will always be begrudgers. I think it's a great idea.

When does it start?

It started on New Years Eve with a number of events around the country. It's supposed to be a year long thing.

Jimoslimos · 20-06-2013 10:29PM

For Forks Sake wrote: »

http://www.failteireland.ie/FailteIreland/media/WebsiteStructure/Documents/3_Research_Insights/3_General_SurveysReports/Overseas_visitors_to_Ireland_January-March_2013.pdf?ext=.pdf

Visitors from mainland Europe up 13% Year on Year for Q1.....any other unsubstantiated statements can be answered by statistics in the link.

Anything more concrete than a badly presented survey?

For Forks Sake · 20-06-2013 10:32PM

Jimoslimos wrote: »

Anything more concrete than a badly presented survey?

It's Failte Irelands figures, what else do you want me to get. Would you like me to go to the airport and conduct a survey?

Jester252 · 20-06-2013 10:34PM

Sure its just marketing

Sergeant · 20-06-2013 10:37PM

I know of 6 Canadians arriving into Ireland to visit the place where their great-grandfather grew up. It's a really beautiful place beside the Shannon. Behind them is a series of hills; looking across the river reveals miles of unblemished bog land.

It's their first time in Ireland. The reason they decided to visit here as a group was as a result of seeing an ad by Fáilte Ireland last year. Saw the ad. Had a chat. Over drinking wine they decided to visit Ireland.

The Gathering are you ashamed

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